Review Roundup: Sandra Bullock Stars in MINIONS

Sandra Bullock stars in the new animated family comedy MINIONS. MINIONS follow the origin story of the beloved creatures from Universal's DESPICABLE ME and DESPICABLE ME 2. MINIONS was directed by Kyle Balda and Pierre Coffin and was written by Brian Lynch.

MINIONS begins at the dawn of time where we see the MINIONS evolving through the ages. As time goes on, the MINIONS serve only the most despicable of masters including the likes of a T-Rex and Napoleon. But, the MINIONS have a difficult time with keeping their masters and soon find themselves master-less and depressed. But one determined Minion, Kevin, along with his two brethren Stuart and Bob, venture out to find themselves, as well as the rest of their species, a new master. Ultimately, the trio find themselves a new potential master, Scarlet Overkill, the world's first super villainess, who hatches a plot to take over the world. Therefore, the MINIONS must face their greatest challenge, saving all of Minionkind.

MINIONS stars Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm, Michael Keaton, Allison Janney, Steve Coogan, and Jennifer Saunders.

Let's see what the critics had to say!

Manohla Dargis, New York Times: It's fitting that the little yellow critters scampering through "Minions" look as identical as genetically modified corn kernels, save for a googly eyeball or two. Franchises operate on an axis of sameness and difference, so it's amusing that one incorporates that truism into its actual character design. And while "Minions" explores nominally new narrative ground, it folds neatly into a series that now includes two features ("Despicable Me" and "Despicable Me 2"), various shorts, books, video games, sheet music and a theme park attraction. So, you know, different but also the same.

Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: his origin story, while being utterly harmless and far from despicable, wears out its welcome way too soon. For starters, all the good stuff is front-loaded. That's a prologue that traces the minion story from the time of the T-Rex through Dracula, Napoleon and whole slew of evildoers. The movie, directed by Kyle Balda and Pierre Coffin from a script by Brian Lynch, never tops that inspired intro. In their search for the ultimate villain, the minions - led by Kevin, Stuart and Bob (all voiced in delightful gibberish by Coffin) - hit a few dead ends, including a family of crooks (dad is voiced by Michael Keaton, mom by Allison Janney). At a Villain-Con convention in Orlando, they find the scheming Scarlet Overkill (Sandra Bullock) and her inventor husband, Herb (Jon Hamm). Scarlet enlists their help in stealing Queen Elizabeth's crown. It's a botch job, much like the movie. It's always fun to watch the minions shake their sillies out. But occupying the star spot instead of the chorus is a burden these fabulous freaks can't quite shoulder.

Peter Debruge, Variety: A "Despicable Me" prequel that traces Gru's comic-relief henchmen all the way back to the time when they were single-celled organisms, "Minions" hilariously imagines centuries in which the little guys have sought to serve the greatest villain they could find, but quickly settles into more conventional cartoon territory once they fix on a dastardly new master named Scarlet Overkill, voiced by Sandra Bullock. Delivering more Minions but less heart than their two previous outings (which earned $543 million and $970 million worldwide), this by-popular-demand detour proves that as boundless as the yellow creatures' appeal may seem, they work better as supporting characters than as the main attraction - not that the Minions will be wearing out their welcome anytime soon. They're still the funniest cartoon characters in town, hitting that silly sweet spot capable of delighting everyone from toddlers to Kim Jong-un, bound to reach new international box office heights for Universal's Illumination Entertainment.

Kyle Smith, New York Post: The whole movie feels like filler, the equivalent of taking the Scrat slapstick that begins the "Ice Age" movies and stretching it to 90 minutes.

Jacob Hall, New York Daily News: Your tolerance for "Minions" begins and ends with the Minions themselves. Their shrill language and endless pratfalls will work only for kids, while some parents will find "Minions" 91 minutes of yellow-tinged hell - and a reason to steer the tots back to "Inside Out" for a second or third viewing.

Boyd van Hoeij, The Hollywood Reporter: The first two features in the series, which both were scripted by Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio, at least had central relationships that evolved over the course of the film, as Carell's much-missed unsociable baddie, Mr. Gru, learned to become a father to three orphan girls (film one) or a potential romantic partner (part deux), with the fact that the villain was also the protagonist adding something fresh to otherwise-familiar character and plot developments. What's missing in Lynch's screenplay is a similar kind of arc on which to peg all the individual sequences, as the minions - like the proper sidekicks they are - never really learn or change, always getting caught in variations of the same scenario. Add to that the fact that Overkill is a straightforward antagonist, and it feels like this particular collection of scenes could've just as well been 20 - or 200 - minutes long. (Incidentally, one can only wonder how much more interesting the story would've been from Overkill's point of view; as it is, she just sort of drifts in and out of the story when needed.)

Joe McGovern, Entertainment Weekly: Directors Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda provide the submental Spanglish voices of the Minions, which are calibrated to tickle out maximum giggles from the film's toddler audience. Not from their parents. If Minions were a toy, you'd hide its batteries.

Pete Hammond, Deadline: The film in fact exists for its gags, which often are on target particularly in a sequence where the Minions are suddenly thrust into a 3 Little Pigs story. I have to confess some of the action is way over the top, and Ms. Overkill lacks the subtlety and shading of Gru in playing off these not-so-mellow yellow creatures. But it is huge family fun and should make a minnnnnnnnnt at the box office.

Mark Kermode, The Guardian: Despicable Me 2 was funnier than its predecessor because it had "more minions", so putting the sidekicks centre-stage should ramp up the laughs even further, right? Although the opening "minions through history" sequence proves a very tough act to follow, this slice of burbling slapstick animation did keep me grinning and giggling throughout.

Kristen Page-Kirby, Washington Post: Everyone responds to quality. Well-developed characters. A story arc that doesn't just string jokes together but changes characters in a fundamental, believable way. Comedy that comes from a place of intelligence rather than bodily functions. (Well, maybe some bodily function jokes are OK.)
I'm not saying every animated film has to be "Inside Out," but the reason that film works - just like the "Toy Story" movies and "Tangled" and even "Despicable Me," where the Minions first appeared - is that the story resonates with the entire audience, whether or not they think farts are the funniest things ever. Look, kids like what they like, and sometimes parents have to bend so our sanity doesn't break. Sometimes that means fine, yes, have a hot dog for dinner or just the bun, I don't care, Mommy needs some iPad time. Sometimes that means fine, yes, we will go see "Minions." It's not awful. It's just that the obvious attempts to please parents feel cheap. And we're a little tall to be talked down to.

Photo Credit: Official Facebook

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